Mechanical ironing device



Feb. 1s, 1941@ E E FOSTER l 2,231,894

MEGHAN I CAL IRON ING DEVI CE 'Filed oet. s, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 1 Feb.18, 1941.- E. E. FOSTER MI:"CI IANICAI.|A IRONING DEVICE 4Filed Oct. 6,1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1941. E. E. FOSTER MECHANICAL IRONINGDEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 6. 1934 imm/HMA Feb.4 18,l 1941. E EFOSTER 2,231,894

n y MECHANICAL IRONING DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1934 v 5 Sheet s -Sheet 4Feb. 18, 1941. E. E. FOSTER MECHANICAL IR'CNINC DEVICE 5 sheets-sheet sFiled Oct. 6, 1934 .Patented Feb. 1s,l 1941 PATENT OFFICE l 2,231,894MECHANICAL moNING DEVICE Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex., assignor toMajik- Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas ApplicationOctober 6, 1934, Serial No. 747,241

, 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to a mechanical ironing device and is animprovement over the ironing device in accordance with my copendingapplication for Letters Patent Serial No. 683,218, filed August 1,.1933, now Patent No. 2,027,274, dated January 7, 1936.

The object of the present invention is to provide an ironing devicehaving a mechanical arm and mounted adjacent an ironing board. Themechanical arm is constructed as simply as possible with a minimum ofmoving parts. The iron and arm are counterbalanced and when the iron isforced onto and contacts with the ironing board, which force is veryslight, the iron automatically receives a force equal to that requiredlto iron successfully so that the operator need not apply any pressureon the board. It is thus only necessary to push the iron laterally overLthe board, and when the weight of the operators hand is removed from thehandle of the iron, theiron is raised automatically by the arm of theiron to leave the iron suspended a few inches above the board.

The advantagesof a mechanical ironing device according to the presentinvention are as follows:

. Itis not necessary to lift the iron at any time nor is it necessary toride, the iron during ironing as the mechanical arm does all the work oflifting, lowering and pressing the iron onv the board. For. this reasonthe iron itself isV extremely light and in its suspended position it iseasily pushed or pulled out of the way without undue manual effort. Aslight push down on the handle of the iron will result, when the irontouches the` board, in the mechanical arm forcing the iron downwardly onthe board with all the pressure necessary for perfect ironing.' The cordfor the electric current for heating the iron enters at the end of thearm and thus the electric wires .areprovided in the arm to the iron sothat the cord is at all times completely outA 'ofthe Way and wellprotected. AThe iron cannot fall off the board assit-is permanentlysecured to the mechanical arm. Also it cannot cause` ii-res or scorchingby remaining on the board when not in use as the iron Ais forcedupwardly by the mechanical arm a slight distance the in stant the handis removed from the handle of the iron. The arm of the ironing deviceuses no electric. current as it is entirely mechanical. lFinally theentire ironingl device can be neatly and easily folded up and storedaway as a com'- pact and portable household appliance.

of the board.

The lforegoing are all advantages and objects of the present inventionbut others will suggest themselves when the following description istaken into consideration together with the accompanying drawings. As anexample the me- 5 chanical arm is operated by a single spring which notonly acts as a counterbalance for the arm and iron but also supplies thepressure necessary to force the iron on the board when the iron touchesthe board and continues to press the iron on the board during the entireironing procedure.

The drawings show a form of the invention in which the same referencenumerals indicate corresponding cr similar parts throughout the severalviews and inv which:

Figure 1 is a. front-side viewof the entire mechanical ironing device,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the entire device,

Fig. 3 is anend-side View of the entire device on a somewhat largerscale,

Fig. 4 is a' side view. of the iron and its arm together with themechanical operator for the arm,

Fig. 5 is a. top view of a portion ofthe arm partly in section,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the iron and a portion of the arm, i

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanical operator and aportion of the arm,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the operator taken on line 8--8 ofFig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the operator taken on line 9--9 ofFig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the operator,

Figs. 11 to 14 are diagrammatic side views illustrating the operator infour different positions, Y

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional View of the universal. joint in the iron,and

Fig. 16 is a top view. ofV the iron with a number of parts removed. A

The complete device as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 includes a preferablytubular frame I- having a 45 plurality of legs 2, an ironing board 3mounted on the frame I, and an iron operator 4l supporting the arm 5andthe iron 6 and mounted on the frame I. The entire machine can befolded up by unscrewing the legs 2, loosening the bolts l and byrotating the operator I 270- clockwisey (Fig. 3) around the linear pivot8 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) as a center so that the operator, arm and the ironwill be adjacent the bottom surface electric cord 9 and a switch plug I6to the top operator 4. y

The iron 6 is mounted on the arm 5 as shown 4in Figs. 4 to s. The arm sis jointed so that itv comprises two sections II and I2 movablyconnected together by the joint I3. A lever 'system passes through thearm portions II and I2 and through the joint I3 and consists of a leverI4` pivoted at I5 in the'arm II. -A lever I6 is pivoted at I1 in the armI2 and both arms in the joint I3 are connected to each other by a pullrod I8. The other end of the lever I6' is connected to an operating rodI9 which extends from the end of the arm 5 into the operator 4.

The operator 4, Figs. 7 to 14, comprises a staltionary frame member 20rigidly secured to the frame of the entire device. A movable mem-- ber2| carries the arm 5 and is mounted to move vertically by means ofinterconnecting links 22 connecting the members 20 and 2| in the form ofa parallelogram.

As shown in Figs. 7 vto 10, two links 22 are provided at the lower endof the parallelogram, Fig. '7, and one link on the upper end, Fig. 8.The lower links 22 are interconnected by means of a bar 23. Theparallelogram, therefore, comprises the members 20 and 2| and the links22. v

A bracket 24 is secured to the member` 2| by means of screw 25 and a capscrew 26. A double arm 21 is pivotally connected to the bracket at 28and has one end of a spring 29 secured thereto by means of an adjustablelink 3|) mounted on Ya pin 3|. This link 30 is adjustable by means ofthe set screw 32. A section 33 extends across the arm 21 to which theoperating rod I9 is secured. The other end of the spring 29 is connectedto a pin34 secured toa bracket 35 which in turn is fastened to the upperlink 22.

As clearly shown in Fig. 9 the lower links 22 are mounted onball-bearings 36 which are maintained in place by screws 31 in shafts38.

The operation of this parallelogram arrangement is as follows:

Referring to Figs. 11 to 14, Fig. 12 shows the vertically movable member2|' of the four bar linkage in its extreme upward position. The spring29 has a slight tension therein but is in its unstretched position. Fig.11 shows the parts in the half-way position in which the distancebetweena center line of the spring 29 to the point B is less than thedistance between a center line of the spring 29 to the point B in Fig.12. In other words the effective lever arm for tensioning the springlessens as the member 2| moves downward and therefore compensates forthe fact that the tension onthe spring increases. In Fig. 13, the member2| has travelled still lower so that the points C and D almost coincidebut the spring 29 still continues to lift upward with about the sameforce that it did at the beginning or middle of the stroke. At thisposition the iron would be adjacent Ato the board. Then the weight ofthe hand of the operator upon the handle of the iron moves the arm- 21upwardly as shown in Fig. 14. In this position the spring is pullingdownward. When the arm 21 is in line with the upper link 22, the springis neither pulling upwardly orydownwardly. By providing the stops 39adjustable on the member 2| the lifting force and the pressure force maybe easily adjusted to any combination. Thus the throwover of the arm 21takes place preferably before C and D attain coincidence.

. l 2,231,894A i Electric current is brought to the device by an Theiron 6 is mounted on thev section II of the arm 5 by means of a swiveljoint arrangement as shown in Figs. 6 and 15. The section II terminatesinto a collar 39' which is surrounded by a ring 40. A second ring 4Isurrounds the ring 40, and by .means of pins 42 threaded into the lrings and collar a swivel action is attained as..

clearly seen in Fig. 15. This swivel mounting allows the iron to tilt totravel over any slight irregularities resulting from the articles to beironed. Y

Around the second ring 4| a pair of conducting rings 43 are secured andeach ring has a sliding contact member 44 for the electric current forthe heating element 45 as shown in Fig. 16. These conducting ringsrevolve with the arm 5 and in this way the iron may be rotated through360 with current at all times ilowing to the heating element.

The handle 46 of the iron is held on the fork 41 which is secured on theiron by means of a spindle 48. This spindle is secured to the fork by ascrew 49 and to the iron6 by a bushing 50 and pin 5|, Fig. 6. As seen inthis figure, the

spindle 48 does not extend to the bottom plate of the iron in. order topermit vertical movement of the-handle 46, fork 41, and spindle 48relative to the iron. The screw 49 is suilicient to tightly hold thefork 41 to the spindle 48 so that both will rotate together but ifdesired to guard against any slippage a ball 48 may be inserted betweenthese members, and this ball acts as a key. A ball-bearing 52 betweenthering 4| and the bushing permits the iron 6 together with the fork 41and handle 46 to be rotated 360 on the arm 5. A cover 53 is providedunder the fork which is stationary and'which has aY slot 54 therein frthe arm 5. 1 l

The end of the lever I4 is connected to one end of a short leveroperator 55 pivoted in the arm portion II at' 56 of which the -other endterminates into a ball 51 in the iron. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a slotconnection 58 is provided for the operator 55 and thelever I4 in orderto (change directions of the strke, as a, downward movement of the ironhandle must result in an upward pull of the operating link I9. y

The operation of the device is as follows: When an operator pushes theiron down which results by merely resting the weight of the hand or thehand and arm on the handle 46, the, iron 6. arm 5 and-the iron operator2| move downis on the board and upon further .downward movement of thehandle 46 a downward movement of the fork 41 slightly rotates the leveroperator V55 around pivot 56. 'I'his rotates the lever I4 around pivot'I5 causing a downward travel of the pull rod I8 and a slight rotationof the lever I6 which in turn pulls the operating rod 'I9 upwardly. Thislatter results in the members 29 and 21 assuming a position shown inFig. 14 from the position 'of Fig..13. The spring 29 will now exert adownward pull on the operator 2| which leirerts a downward force on theiron 6 by means of'the arm 5 yas long as the operators hand exerts aslight force on the handle 46. Upon releasing this force on the handle46 the various elements reverse their movementsv so that the spring 29will restore the parts 22, 5 and 'iron 6 to the position shown in Figs.3 and 12.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 /tlae electric cord 6I is mounted and havingmeans associated therewith to apply an ironing pressure to the iron, and

' means operable from the iron by movement with respect to the arm andto the parallelogram device to apply pressure on the i'ron through thearm by means of the parallelogram device when the iron contacts anironing board or the material to'be ironed.

2. A mechanical ironing deviceA comprising an iron, an arm on which theiron is mounted, a handle mounted for movement with respect to saidiron, a jointed parallelogram device to one link of which the arm isrigidly secured and having means to counterbalance the weight of theiron or to apply ironing pressure on the iron, and means operable bymovement of the handle with respect tothe iron to remove the influenceof the counterbalance and to apply ironing pressure on the arm and ironwhen the iron contacts an ironing board or the material to be ironed.

3. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which thelast-mentioned means consists of a linkage system in the arm.

4. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which means isprovided on the handle and in the iron to permit vertical movement ofthe handle relative to the iron, and in which the second-mentioned meansconsists of a linkage system operable by themovement of the handle;

5. A mechanical ironing -device according to claim 2, in which thefirst-mentioned means includes a spring.

6. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 2, in which thefirst-mentioned means includes a spring, and in which 'thelast-mentioned means includes a plurality of links pro-. vided in thearm.

7. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron, a handle mounted formovement with respect to said iron, an arm on which the iron is mountedand suspended over an ironing board, a jointed parallelogram device onwhich the arm is mounted on one of the members thereof, said jointedparallelogram device having a shiftable A spring cooperating with andconnected thereto which acts to counterbalance the weight of the ironand its arm when the iron is in a position out of contact with theboard, and means passing through the arm and operable bytmovement of thehandle with respect to said arm to actuate the sp-ring when the iron ispushed down to contact the board to remove the influence of Athecounterbalance and to apply pressure on the arm and iron.

8. A mechanical ironing device according to claim 7, in which an arm isconnected at one end to the parallelogram andthe spring is connected atone end to one of the members of the parallelogram and the other end tothe other end of the last-mentioned arm.

9. A mechanical ironing device Ifor an ironing board, comprising aniron, an arm on one end of which the iron is mounted, a handle movablymounted with respect to the iron, a movable member on which the otherend ofthe arm is mounted, a stationary member mounted on the board, apair of links interconnecting the movable and stationary members, an armpivotally 75 mounted on the movable member, a spring secured at one endto the last-named arm and to one link at the other end, and acting as acounterbalance for the iron, and means-passing through -board by movingsaid last-named arm.

10. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron and an arm on whichthe iron is mounted, a handle movably mounted with respect to the iron,means for supporting the arm including four pivoted members forming aparallelogram, a spring, a link pivotally secured at one end to one ofthe four members and the other end to one end of the spring, the otherend of thespring being connected to one of the otherthree of the four'members and means operatively connected with the handle and the linkthrough the arm and operable by movement of the handle with respect tothe iron to shift 'the spring by said link to counterbalance the weight'of the iron and arm in one position and in another position to forcethe iron on the material to be ironed with `ironing pressure by movingsaid last-named arm.

1l. A mechanical movement for changing the direction of a forcecomprising a member movable in at least two directions, a second memberpivoted to the first-mentioned member at a point on said second member,a, spring secured at one end to the other end of the second-mentionedmember and having the other end pivotally secured to a point againstwhich the force inthe spring reacts, said pivot points being relativelymovable with respect to each other so that they -.may be moved closetoone another or attain relatively moved close to each other or attaincoincidence and the second-mentioned member is shifted around its pivot,a force ina direction opposite to the direction 'of the first-mentionedforce is imparted to the first-mentioned member by the spring.

12. A mechanical movement according to claim 11, in which the springfollows the movement of and moves with the second mentionedmember aroundthe pivot point of said spring when the second-mentioned member isshifted around its I pivot point.

13. A mechanical ironing device comprising an iron, an arm on which theiron is mounted so that it may be moved transversely/over an ironingboard in any direction, a universal joint connection between the ironand the arm to permit the iron to pass over any irregularities on theironlng board, a pair of contact rings and sliding contacts tocarryielectrlc current to a heating element of the iron, and means'sothat'the iron may be turned through 360 on the" arm.

14. A mechanical actuator for ironing devices comprising a stationarymember, a movable member, means for interconnecting the members tomaintain the members parallel to each other,

an arm secured to the movable member and shlftable relative thereto, andtension means secured to the arm and to the first-named means to forcethe movable member upwardly and to exert a force downwardly on themovable member capable of producing an ironing pressure when the movablemember is in a lowered position and upon shifting of the arm.

15. A mechanical actuator for ironing devices comprising a stationarymember, a movable member, means for interconnecting the members tomaintain the members parallel to each other,`

shiftable means associated with the movable member, and a spring toforce the movable member upwardly and to exert a force downwardly on themovable member capable of producing an ironing pressure when the movablemember is in a lowered position and -upon shifting of the last membersto maintain the'members parallel to each other, an arm pivotally mountedon the movable member, and a spring secured at one end to the arm and atthe other end to one of said links to normallyforce the movable memberupwardly and to exert a force downwardly on the movable member capableof producing an ironing pressure when the movable member is forceddownwardly and when the arm shifts its position around its pivot.

18. An actuator according to claim 16, in which the plurality of linksis in the form of a pair of links each pivotally connected at both endsto the members.

19. A mechanical movement comprising a pair of members and means tomaintain relative parallel movement between the members,r a thirdmember'pivotally connected to one of said pair of members, and a springhaving one end secured to the third'member and the other end secred tosaid means, said spring being maintained under tension at all times bysaid members and means and adapted, when shifted by said third member toset up forces of different magnitude ,and direction between said pair ofmembers.

EDWIN E. FOSTER.

